Thurl Bailey

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Thurl Bailey: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

Bailey led Jim Valvano's NC State team in scoring and rebounding during the miracle run to the 1983 NCAA championship, and the Jazz took him seventh in that summer's draft — for his character as much as his game, management said. Once Karl Malone arrived, Bailey became a premier reserve, scoring 19.6 a game in 1987-88 and twice finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He missed only four eligible games in his first Jazz stint and returned for a farewell season in 1998-99.

Big T never really left Utah — he broadcasts Jazz and University of Utah games, records albums as a singer-songwriter, and raises his family in Highland. While playing in Italy he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, baptized on New Year's Eve 1995.

HOW HE CAME & WENTUtah took him seventh overall in 1983, saying openly he was chosen for his character as much as his game. On November 25, 1991 the Jazz traded him to Minnesota for Tyrone Corbin — Corbin was expected to help against smaller, quicker lineups. Scott Layden called it a tough deal. Bailey came back as a free agent in 1999 and retired here.

Full name

Thurl Lee Bailey Sr.

Utah Jazz tenure

1983–91, 1998–99

Position

Forward

Born

1961, Washington, D.C.

Height

6′11″ (211 cm)

Weight

216 lb (98 kg)

College

North Carolina State

Drafted

1983, 1st round (No. 7), Utah